Railway-crossing.



S. BALKWILL.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, 1917.

1,250,126. Patented Deo.18,l917.'

a simian-SHE T 1.

- s. BALKWILE.

RAILWAY CROSSING. APPLICATION HLED UL'Y IG. I91]- 7 Patented De0.18,1 917.

3 SHEET3 SHEET 2.

s'. BALKWILL.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY-16. 19.11.

' 1,250,126. Patented Dec. 18,1917- 3 swans-sugars.

zz/616C 15 {KW/A W5.

STEPHEN BALKWILL, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAILWAY-CROSSING.

Specification of Letters Patent, PatentQd Dec. 18; 1&17,

Application filed July 16 191-7. Serial No. 180,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN BALKWILL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at are cast and secured together by bolts or other suitable means when the parts are as sembled.

The invention herein set forth is more specifically an improvement upon the railroad crossing shown and described in my co-pending application filed November 23, 1914, and has for its object to provide a center plate for the crossing which may be removed and renewed as occasion may demand.

Generally speaking, the invention may be said to, comprise the elements and combinationsthereof set forth in the accompanying claims.

Reference should be had to the acc0mpanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the assembled members comprising the crossing; Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the assembled members of a crossing embodying amodified form of the invention shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the elements forming a corner of the crossing shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section upon the lines 47-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5 5 of Fi 3; Fig. 6 is a section upon the line 6-6 of ig. 2; Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing a modified form of crossing; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 1.

The crossing shown and described in my prior application involved the employment of crossing members having the necessary wheel fiangeways formed partly in cooperating members of the crossing, these members being connected together in such a fashion as to permit a certain flexibility or relative movement between the members, and

- particularly at that portion of the crossing where solid cast crossings are wont to fail, thereby preventing in large measure the breakage or fracture of crossings of the cast- The invention seeks to embody with that type of crossing which has been explained in my prior ap )lication, a renewable centerplate, Which p. ate is situated at the point where the wheel fiangeways cross each other, and which consequently receives a greater amount of wear than any other portion of the crossing.

This portion of the crossing can to advantage be made separate from the other parts of the crossing so that it may be renewed as occasion may require.

The renewable center is so held by the crossing members as to partake of the flexibility of the crossing, thereby minimizing breakage.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a right angle crossing is shown, but it will be apparent that the wheel flangeways may cross at other angles than that shown.

In Fig. 3 there are shown in proper relation but disconnected, the several elements which comprise a crossing of the form of crossing shown in Figv 1, and it will be understood that the other three corners are made up of the same elements.

At 10 there is shown a member which is in general U-shape. This member 10 has acentral portion 10 which is provided with a wheel fiangeway 10 The arms of the member 10. are indicated at 10, each arm 10 having formed therein a partially formed flangeway 10 and beneath the portion'lO is a recessed-portion, the purpose of which will later appear. The portions of the member 10 indicated at 10 which join the portion 10 with the arms 10 are formed with an undercut recess 10 which receives a portion of the renewable center as will later be explained.

The corner member which is generally represented at 11, has arms 11 and 11". Each of these arms has a projection 11 which is formed with a partial flangeway 11 The projecting portion 11 is adapted to cooperate with the recess 10? of the arm 10, and at the same time the partially formed flangeways 10 and 11 cooperate and form a complete wheel flange groove.

The outer or end portions of the arms 11 and 11 areinade of suitable shape and receive the end of arail section :in proper relationship, the rail being bolted in place. Projections 11 and 11' are shown integrally on member 11 to fit'into 10 and. 14:, this being perhaps the most practical commercial form, but the construction could be reversed so that the male portion would become the female portion and the female portion the male portion in each case.

The arms 10 and 11 re secured to each other by bolts, and it will be apparent that this construction enables a limited amount of relative movement to take place between the arms 1.0 and 11, thus giving a certain amount of flexibility between the parts as a wheel passes over the crossing. V

A portion of the member 11 lying between the arms 11 and 11 is indicated at 11 This portion is formed with an undercut grove 11 which is adapted to receive a portion of the renewable center piece as will be later described. The arm 11 of the corner member 11 is provided with aprojection 11 which i in all respects similar to the projection 1 and cooperates with the arm 141" of member 14 in the same manner that projection 11 cooperates with the arm10 of member 10.

It will be understood that at each corner, there is a second member 14-, which is of the same construction as illustrated at 10, which together with a corner member such as illustrated at 11, comprise a corner of the crossing. The portion 11 of the corner member and the portions corresponding to the part 10 of the other members forming the crossing, are adapted, when assembled, to receive 'and cooperate with a center membei indi cated at 12. The center member 12 as intersecting flangeways 13 formed in the top thereof, and the sides are formed with projecting portions or tongues 12*" which are adapted to extend into the recessed or undercut portions 10 and 11, and with a cor responding undercut portion in tile portion 14 ot' the meirher 14' made to receive projection 11 when these various members are properly assembled with" respect to each other,

Instead otthe construction just described,

I may employ the'eonstruction shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. As here shown the corner member 111 is provided with arms 111 and 111*, each of which is formed with a recess or groove such as indicated at 111 in Fig. 9.

The adjacent arms 110 and 111 of cooperating portions ofthe crossing are each formed with a groove or recess 110 and 111 as appears in Fig. 9.

Between the arms 110 and 111 and co operating with the grooves 110 and 111 is a filler 112 which is made to fit into the grooves and hold the cooperating parts in proper spaced relationship.

The filler and the cooperating arms are secured together by bolts or equivalent means.

The groove in which the fla ge of the rolling stock wheel may run provided by the spacing of the arms 110 and 111 at the upper part thereof.

The structure as described permits a limited amount of relative movement or flexibility between the parts which are secured togeth r and substantially eliminates the likelihood of breakage as a wheel passes over the crossing.

The center member 12 is not secured by any positive means to the member's forming members are supported only by the usual tics and thus the flexible feature of the crossing is secured.

The center piece 12 cooperates with the other portions of the crossing so that the grooves 13 in the top thereof: aline with the wheel flangeways formed in the other mems The center member is removed'by the center member, go that all the crossing ber of the crossing a nd form continuations thereof. I v

In Fig. 2 the form of the members con-1- prising the crossing is slightly varied from that shown. in'Fig. 1, although the renewable center member issubstantiall y the same except that the form is slightly changed to adapt it forr-utfe .with the crossing members shown in Fig. 2.

In the crossing shown in Fig. 1, the portion 10 of the member 10, has the wheel flangeway 10*, formed directly therein. In the term shown in Fig. 2, the member 1'5 which corresponds with the member'ltl, has

the portion 15 formed with a projection such as indicated at 15 in Fig. 6. This projection cooperates with a rail section such as indicated at 16, the parts being secured together by bolts. The portion 15 is formed so as to provide a wheel flangeway when the part 15 cooperates with the rail section.

In this construction the rail sections 1.3 for the crossing are secured to each other by means of angle straps, bars or braces 17, as indicated in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent from the drawing that the rail sections engage each other at their ends. and the center member 18 is notched out and made a continuation of section 15"- in order to it around the ends where the rail sections 16incet. whether mitered as shown, or otherwise. To this extent the center member 18 is modified over that illustrated at 12, but the cooperation and mannor of engagementbetween the other portions of the crossing and the renewable cen ter member 18 are exactly the same as that described with respect to the center plate 12. In Fig. 2 the center 18 has a male portion on it to fit into the rail section which is the female portion, whereas in Fig. l. the corresponding corner is made female so the angle bar 17 will fit directly into it, without having the rail section interposed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: p

1. In a railway crossing, the combination of members each having an arm with a tread, portion and an arm element formed as a guard, and other members forming a corner having elements each of Which forms a tread portion, each arm element before mentioned engaging with an element forming atread portion above the base of said member therei by to form a wheel fiangeway, one of the engaging elements being formed with a de pression above the base thereof, and the other being formed with a projection which cofiiperates with the said depression, and a center member having wheel flangeways formed in the top thereof, said center membercooperating with the members first mentioned in such a manner that the wheel fiangeways are in alinement,

2. In a railway crossing, the combination of members each having an arm with a tread portion and an arm element formed as a guard, and other members forming a corner having elements each of which forms a tread portion, each arm element before mentioned ing with an element forming a tread poi .ron about the base of said member thereby to form a wheel flangeway, one of the engaging elements being formed with a depression above the base thereof, and the other member being formed with a projection which cooperates with the said depression, each of the said members being provided with a portion having a depression, a center member having projections which engage in the depressions formed in the other of said members, whereby the said center member is supported by the railway crossing members when in assembled position, the center piece having wheel tiangeways formed in the top thereof which form continuations of the wheel fiangeways formed by the assembled crossing members. I

3. A railway crossing comprising memlbers each having an arm with a tread portion and an arm formed as a guard, and a distinet member having a corner portion formed integral, and portions extendingtherefromwhich form tread portions that engage with and are secured to the arms formed as guards on the first mentioned members thereby to form wheel flangeways, the said engaging tread portions and arm portions having the one a depression and the other a projection which engages in the depression, the parts being secured together whereby there is secured a limited flexibility between the parts, a center member adapted to cooperate with the aforesaid members, said center member being supported by the said first mentioned members and forming the corner at which said members unite, the center member being provided with wheel flangeways in the top thereof which coi' perate with the wheel flangeways formed by the said members.

4. A railway crossing having approach portions, each. approach portion being formed in two parts, said parts cooperating to form a wheel flangeway, the said parts engaging along the surface of contact at which the parts are secured together, one of the parts being formed with a projection and the other with a depression above the base thereof, the projection engaging the do members each consisting of two arms which are parallel and extend in the same direction, and an intermediate connection within the two arms having angular portions provided with depressions, a corner mem ber having extending arms with an angular ortion between them havin a de )ression a center membenhaving projections, said projections engaging in the side members and corner member whereby the. center member is supported entirely by the aforesaid members, the arms of the side members and the arms of the corner member, the one being provided with projections and the other being provided with depressions'adapted' to receive the extensions, with means for secur ing the said members together whereby there is secured a limited amount of flexibility in the connection, there being formed in the surface of the structaire so produced, intersecting wheel flangeways,

6. A' railway crossing comprising two members each having angularly extending arms, the portions between the said arms forming a tread, a rail member ooiiperating with the said tread to form a guard, means for securingthe rail to the said members, the arms of the said members forming guard portions, a corner member having angularly extending arms, each of which is formed as a tread portion, and cooperating with the guard portions of the first mentioned memwith a de ression above the base thereof and the ot er being formed with a projection above the base, the projection cooperating with the depression, and means for securing them together.

7. A railway crossing comprising four side members each consistiiig of two arms which are parallel with each other, and extend in the same direction, and an intermediate bar which is integrally formed at its end with said two arms, the said intermediate bar forming a tread portion, a rail section cooperating with the said intermediate portion and secured thereto to form a guard, four corner members each having tworlgidly extending arms, said members being arranged and connected together in position such that two arms of a corner member contact respectively with an arm on each adjacent side member, and means for securing the arms of the corner members to the arms of the said members, there being in said crossing so produced, two pairs of parallel intersecting flangeways.

8. A railway crossing comprising four side members each consisting of two arms which are parallel, and extend in the same direction, and an intermediate bar which is integrally formed at its end with said two arms,the said intermediate bar forming a tread portion, a rail section cooperating with the said intermediate portion and secured thereto to form a guard, four corner members each having two rigidly extending arms, said members being arranged and connected together in position such that two arms of a corner member contact respectively with an arm on each adjacent side member means for securing the arms of the corner members to the arms of the said direction, and an intermediate bar which is integrally formed at its end with said two arms, the said intermediate bar forming a tread portion, a rail section cooperating with the said intermediate portion and secured thereto to form a guard, four corner members each having two rigidly extending arms, said members being arranged and connected together in position such that two arms of a corner member contact respectively with an arm on each adjacent side member, means for securing the arms of the corner members to the arms of the said members, there being in said pocket so produced two pairs of parallel intersecting flange-..

ways, a center member cooperating with the side and corner members at their point of meeting, said center members being supported entirely by the side and corner members above the base of said members, the center member being provided with wheel flangeways in the top thereof which cooperate with the wheel fiangeways formed by the'members adjacent thereto.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiiX my signature.

STEPHEN BALKWILL. 

